The Sacramento Kings are no stranger to missing the playoffs.
In fact, the franchise currently holds the record across all major sports for most consecutive postseasons missed. From 2006-2023, the Kings missed the playoffs a record-setting 16 straight times.
They are no stranger to losing either. During this 16-year span, the Kings drafted players like Nik Stauskas, Quincy Douby, Thomas Robinson, and Shanghai Sharks legend Jimmer Fredette in the lottery. They would go on to have 16 consecutive losing seasons, never getting above ten games under 500.
Understandably, the combination of poor draft decisions with even poorer general management decisions made the Kings the worst NBA team for a very long time.
The Come-Up
However, slowly, the Kings got a lot better.
They made the smart choice of drafting De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, the latter of whom they traded for Indiana Pacers’ center Damontas Sabonis two years later. While Haliburton would thrive in Indiana, this trade elevated the Kings to the next level in many ways. Sabonis would soon show All-Star and even All-NBA potential, while Fox would also receive both honors. Together, they became a dynamic duo around which the roster was built.
With the addition of young two-way stud Keegan Murray and veteran coach Mike Brown, Sacramento would go on to have the best offense of the 2022-2023 NBA Season. All of this was augmented further by the signing of Malik Monk, who has since been in contention for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
The Kings started playing quick, fun basketball for the first time in 16 years and broke their longstanding missed playoffs streak. Their excellent offense led them to the third seed in the West and a matchup against the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
Unfortunately, the Kings would lose in a tough series to the Warriors, and this is when the cracks started to surface.
Compounding Problems
One thing that had been lacking through all of this was the Kings’ defensive ability. This was made worse by the NBA’s at-large offensive improvement in the 2023-2024 NBA Season. The Kings also did not look the same offensively and started to develop a reputation for blowing large leads and losing to bad teams.
The Kings struggled throughout the year and failed to make the playoffs. In the play-in, they lost against the New Orleans Pelicans. The worst part about this loss was that Zion Williamson had gotten injured the game before and was not playing.
However, coming into the 2024-2025 NBA season, the Kings had high hopes. They signed perennial All-Star and Clutch Player of the Year DeMar DeRozan, re-signed Malik Monk to a long-term deal, and extended coach Mike Brown. Unfortunately, these moves haven’t panned out.
While slightly improved, the Kings’ defense has remained an issue. While they rank 7th in offensive rating this season, they have an 18th-ranked defense. This takes them solidly out of contention for the time being.
Furthermore, the addition of DeRozan to a roster known for quickness and passing has not paid off. The Kings were known for their passing especially, ranking in the top ten in that category the past two seasons. However, this season, they have fallen to 20th. It seems DeRozan’s iso, heavy-midrange style of play has not fit in very well with this Kings team. All of this has led to a 10-12 record in a very competitive Western Conference.
Uncertain Future
It’s hard to say where Sacramento is supposed to go from here.
To add fuel to the fire, De’Aaron Fox’s contract, which was not extended over the summer, has become the subject of numerous trade rumors. The current core has not shown the ability to win a championship. Additionally, the front office is financially hamstrung due to the moves they have made over the past year.
One thing is for certain— the NBA is much more fun when the Kings are a good team. But if they don’t move fast, Kings fans are all too familiar with the misery of missing the playoffs year after year. The question remains: should the Kings blow it up or double down?
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